What You Need to Know About Watch Luminescence

The modern wristwatch, which was developed towards the turn of the 20th century, revolutionized timekeeping. Only wealthy, upper-class women donned these timepieces in the first few years of its debut, as gentlemen preferred pocket watches. Pilots also found them handy for telling the time while both hands were occupied steering the plane.

However, over time, everyone else saw the convenience of wearing a wristwatch, as all it took was a glance on their wrist to know what time it was instead of reaching into their pocket and pulling out their watch. Further innovations, like watch luminescence, arose from soldiers’ need to tell the time without using a match or a flashlight while they were in the front lines. Here’s what you need to know about watch luminescence to help you pick out custom Seiko dials for your precious timepiece:

The Origins of Watch Luminescence

In the earlier stages of watch luminescence, these glowing timepieces were dangerous. Companies employed women, eventually known as the Radium Girls, to paint watch dials with radium. However, it was hazardous not only to the watch wearer but to the painters, who fell severely ill after prolonged exposure to the dangerous substance.

Before the dangers of radium were discovered, women flocked to painting luminescence onto watch dials because it paid quite a sum in the 1910s and 1920s. It also demanded artistic skills, which made it a more appealing job. The lume technology at that time seemed modern and cutting-edge, with watch painters feeling fulfilled about contributing to the war effort by making watch dials more legible for soldiers.

The ladies applied the lume material with a precision brush, which they usually sharpened using their tongue to keep the bristles pointed and sharp. Some workers even applied the material onto their fingernails.

The Safer Alternative

Watchmakers soon recognized the need to innovate a safer lume material for watch dials as watch painters rapidly fell ill. Tritium, a novel radioactive element, was deemed to be a more reliable alternative. Watches with plastic case backs often had Tritium paint-based luminescence due to the way the element diffused and entered the dial, crystal, and case back, which may also reach the skin of the watch wearer.

Tritium is less radioactive than its predecessor, making it safer to use on watch dials until the early 1990s when an even lower risk material emerged. However, Tritium is still used by some watchmakers in the industry under GTLS or gaseous tritium light sources. 

Seiko’s Innovative Lume

Seiko uses the stunningly radiant LumiBrite in its diving watches, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Kenzo Nemoto developed the technology it was based on, called LumiNova. LumiBrite is entirely safe for humans and the environment since it doesn’t contain radioactive substances or toxic ingredients. It is also an enhanced luminous paint that manages the light energy it absorbs and stores from light sources efficiently, allowing it to emit light right away in dark areas.

According to Jiro Uchida, the president of Seiko when LumiBrite rolled out, described the substance as a ”virtually permanent, non-radioactive, fluorescent coating that can light up the face of a watch, or just its hands and numbers, for up to five hours after two minutes of exposure to sunlight.” The watch company started using LumiBrite in 1994, which is the material they’re using today.

Conclusion

Watch luminescence has gone a long way since its introduction, reflecting the latest discoveries in science and technology in each of its iterations. Japanese innovation and creativity have resulted in the creation of LumiBrite, one of the most radiant lume technologies in the market.

Crystaltimes USA is the leading provider of Seiko mod parts, like ceramic bezel inserts, custom Seiko dials, case backs, crowns, movements, and more. Our chapter rings can also have lume, adding more function and style to your watch. Create your dream Seiko watch by customizing it with our mod parts!